Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights Will Give You Great Nightmares

October 5, 2014
1 min read

At Universal Studios in Orlando Halloween Horror Nights recently began its 24th season of scaring the pants off of visitors. I had the opportunity to check out opening night, and it did not disappoint. With eight haunted houses, four scare zones, and two live shows, HHN offers a myriad of opportunities to be terrified.

HHN_10_From-Dusk-Til-DawnThe scare zones essentially ensure that visitors remain amped and on guard while traveling between the individual haunted houses. While it’s possible to avoid the zones by walking along either side, it’s much more fun to be in the midst of the action. The themes of the four zones are The Purge: Anarchy, Face Off – In the Flesh, Bayou of Blood, and MASKerade: Unstitched. While all four were creepy, MASKerade: Unstitched got under my skin the most. It felt like the scare-actors (Universal’s term for the scary characters) were floating around us in the eerie fog.

The two live shows are not meant to be scary but rather serve as a welcome break in the ensuing terror. Both Rocky Horror Picture Show and Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure are campy, audience participation-driven productions where laughter and relaxation are encouraged.

If you want to be able to make it to all eight haunted houses, definitely buy an express pass as the lines to get in snake down the block in most places. Of the eight houses (Halloween, The Walking Dead: End of the Line, AVP: Alien Vs. Predator, From Dusk Till Dawn, Dracula Untold – Reign of Blood, Dollhouse of the Damned, Giggles and Gore, Inc., and Roanoke – Cannibal Colony) Halloween is definitely my favorite. The creative team at Universal recreated the front ofMichael Myers childhood home, and that is the backdrop while waiting in line. Once inside the house, there are dozens of Michael Myers hiding around corners and behind curtains. It’s absolutely terrifying. I somehow managed not to wet my pants or punch a scare-actor, and I only hid behind my wife twice. I’ll take that as a win.

Whether you’ve never been to HHN or are a diehard fanatic, don’t miss it this year. It runs through Halloween (except Monday and Tuesday nights), so there are plenty of opportunities to be scared out of your skin. Make sure you buy your tickets ahead of time as it sometimes sells out, and check out Universal’s resorts to make your stay complete. If you capture great pictures of freaked out friends, be sure to tag us @eujacksonville!

Current Issue

Recent Posts

SUBMIT EVENTS

Submit Events

Advertisements

Welcome to Rockville 2025
SingOutLoadFestival_TheAmp_2025
omaha-steaks-banners

Date

Title

Current Month

Follow FOLIO!

Previous Story

Rich Guzzi

Next Story

Halloween Party at the Casket Factory

Latest from Feature

Bouquets and Brickbats

BOUQ To Representative Angie Nixon for calling on UNF to stand up for their students and not train campus police to work on ICE’s behalf under the Trump regime’s hostile government takeover.      To Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class Sarah Svejkovsky for receiving the Sailor of the Year Award. The Navy’s

New Music Monthly

Words by Amiyah Golden May 9  Kali Uchis: “Sincerely” Kali Uchis revealed the news about her upcoming album “Sincerely” to fans in March via her Instagram. Uchis has kept much of her project under wraps, but fans are still excited to hear what she has created for her fifth

A Glimpse into the World of John O’Brien

Words and photos by Amiyah Golden “As a very young child, probably around 5 years old, I saw my mother in the leading role in a musical play that was being put on by a local amateur acting group that she was — unbeknownst to me — a member

Jason Isbell: The Last Honest Songwriter

Words by Teresa Spencer In a music world bloated with flash and pretense, Jason Isbell stands tall with no rhinestones, no smoke machines, no bull. He’s one of the most critically respected American singer-songwriters alive today. The real deal: a man with deep Southern roots, a razor-sharp pen and

Chalk It Up to Punk

Meet Chalk Tiger  Words by Ambar Ramirez By day, Bryce Powell handles home loans, Ryan Cobb troubleshoots IT systems at a law firm, and Blake Powell builds pools under the Florida sun. But when the sun dips low and the clock-out chimes hit, a different kind of work begins.
July 5th Cleanup
GoUp

Don't Miss

‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ Is Everything but a Horror

By Ambar Ramirez It’s that magical time of year
Terror awaits you at Halloween Horror Nights 29, HHN29

Terror awaits you at Halloween Horror Nights 29

Now in its 29th year, ’s has long been chock-full